Bullet Mufflers

[Jerry Grant]

I think the bullet mufflers for the 1940s Z and other tractors are beginning to be harder to find. It is my understanding that there were 2 gentlemen who were making them passed away last year. I just bought a replacement muffler from Welters(not a bullet muffler)for $40 to get by. I was looking through the Clarinda IA show pictures on the MM Collectors site and there on a display table is a bullet muffler just standing there among some hats and other MM items for sale. Is someone making these? Hopefully not too expensive?

 

[G. L. Grumpy]

Somewhere I saw note and pictures of guy making them. Think on the Other MM site. Looked pretty good, but wanted $100 for one! These are type that look like in halves put together, not just one piece smooth look. Steiner's has the usual brand listed for that tractor, but guess you guys want better made one?? Do they really last any longer than a boughten one? Exhaust tends to rust out, no matter how much you paint or prepare one, specially if you have it outside all the time.

 

[Jerry Grant]

Since my tractor is a show tractor, I am after the bullet look. I agree $100 is expensive, but I understand the ones that were previously being made were in excess of $200. Granted one was stainless steel, but I do not need a stainless steel one. Maybe someone has a pretty good used one?

 

[Molineone]

It's true. The mufflers at Clarinda were $110 each. They have the same baffeling as the OEM mufflers, so they sound they same as original. I preffer the smooth to the original with the seam. I have some original mufflers, but I did buy two (only 20 were made)of the smooth ones in Clarinda. Someone else bought six, and the rest were gone within a couple of hours. They are really well made, and will last longer than I will be around (and I'm young), and if he makes more, they will be at least $150 each...

 

[Jerry Grant]

So how about one of your older ones if it will still do the job? It will go on a show tractor so it will not need to run long hours like a work tractor. I am more interested in the bullet shape and the original sound. Send me an email at [email protected] and let me know. Thanks.

 

[newfarmer9]

Two guys that were making them past away, and another, the one I got my muffler from, has stopped production. $100 is pretty darn cheap for a muffler, especially one that isn't mass produced and has to be hand-built. I paid $260 for mine 3 years ago.

 

[Charlie Biler x]

Guys,
Right now I have the prints for the original KE846 type muffler on my computer. I got lucky and was able to work from an original factory print when I made the new drawings.

Originally the KE mufflers were fabricated exclusively from rolled and stamped P&O sheet metal. Today's mufflers are mostly imported and I would have to go to local mass production to keep the price down to something reasonable. Making theme one at a time would yield those Franklin size prices that nobody likes.

To get the original sound you also have to use the original materials. Making them from a different material will drastically change the sound. That classic ping-ping drum sound, that the long stroke Moline engines are famous for, comes from the high carbon material taking the hit on the hard diffuser baffles. Once there were original style 18-8 stainless mufflers available. The down side was that the stainless steel gave a dull smooth sound because of the metal quality.

Making original mufflers would also require three stampings to duplicate the original design. Both the inlet and outlet originally were made from rolled sheet metal that was seam welded. With today's modern draw pullers this step could be eliminated and the robot could be programed to run a thin bead to duplicate the old seam. It just takes time.....with a lot of blood, sweat, and tears.

Last fall I stopped pushing to get mufflers out there because almost all major effort has gone into piston, bearing, and head gasket production. With the way things are right now, even the R and U pistons had to go way far away on the back burner. The power company just put in the new power drop to the shop I am using. That means I will soon have to remember what I forgot about programming a machining center, from twenty years ago.

Like the R pistons; this project could be done, if there was some demand. I have had four people ask about original KE mufflers in the last year. Funny thing is that I have had four people ask about R pistons in the same span of time. Right now I have to oil the squeaky wheel, when it comes to parts introduction. If you really want something; you have to ask for it.

Tonight I am up late to do one last piston redesign tweak. I want to get the final product just the way I want it. I feel like a little kid that just got a call from the north pole. Soon the final test samples are coming to a set of jugs near me.

Think dirty thoughts. Soon we will be making dirt look good again.
Charlie

 

[Molineone]

I'm sorry but the few mufflers I have are not for sale. So far I only collect MM stuff, and don't sell.

 

[capt-ugly]

i need two bullet mufflers,right now,,,,can you help

 

[matt scott]

I have noticed that these mufflers were getting hard to find. I recently bought a sheet metal roller for working on a threshing machine and i did make one oem looking muffler. They are rather labor intensive. I took me a week to figure out how to make the first one. I was thinking about selling them but i got sidetracked with other projects. I was figureing around $130.00 each but i have to figure out what i have in them before i decide on a price. If you guys need tem i will get to work and see what it costs to make one Thanks Matt